Rohit Patel, who spent eight years developing artificial intelligence systems at Meta, has announced his departure from the tech giant to establish his own AI company named Ndoc. The former director at Meta’s Superintelligence Labs revealed his plans to TechCrunch, stating that his ambition is to revolutionise everyday work tools, aiming to rival established platforms like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

This move comes amid a wave of notable exits from Meta, including high-profile figures such as Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan and AI researcher Andrew Tulloch. Patel’s decision to leave reflects a growing trend among tech leaders seeking to pursue independent ventures in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

With Ndoc, Patel intends to leverage his extensive experience to create an AI-native workspace designed from the ground up, offering a streamlined alternative to traditional office software.

Innovative Features of Ndoc

Ndoc aims to consolidate various office tasks into a single platform, eliminating the need to switch between applications like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. The workspace features a straightforward three-tab layout: the ‘Stage’ tab for presentations and dashboards, the ‘Narrative’ tab for detailed reports and charts, and the ‘Model’ tab for raw data and underlying code.

Patel has prioritised transparency in Ndoc’s design. Users can see the exact Python script used to generate any spreadsheet or chart, fostering trust in the AI’s calculations. For those unfamiliar with coding, the platform includes an AI chat feature that can explain formulas in detail, ensuring clarity in the computational process.

One of Patel’s significant innovations is the introduction of a new file format. Ndoc allows users to export their work as a single “.ndoc.html” file, which can be accessed through any standard web browser. Patel plans to make this format open-source, enabling other developers to create compatible tools without locking users into the Ndoc ecosystem.

Challenges Ahead for Ndoc

Competing against established giants like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI presents a considerable challenge for Patel, who currently leads a team of three and has not secured external funding. While many tech companies are merely integrating AI features into their existing applications, Patel argues that this approach is inadequate.

He likens the current technological landscape to the early days of electricity, where innovations were limited to minor enhancements rather than transformative changes. Ndoc is designed to represent a significant leap forward, akin to the invention of the tractor in agriculture. To maintain lower operational costs, the startup utilises a combination of open-source AI models instead of relying on expensive proprietary systems.

Ndoc also incorporates built-in connectors, facilitating the easy import of data from existing tools, thereby enhancing user experience and accessibility.

Future Plans for Ndoc

Patel has chosen to delay seeking outside funding until he can demonstrate that customers are genuinely enthusiastic about the product. Currently, Ndoc is in the alpha testing phase, involving a limited group of early users who have signed up via a waitlist.

While the initial signup for the software is free, Patel has indicated that users will eventually be charged for usage. A beta version is anticipated to be released in the coming weeks, with a full commercial launch targeted for 2027. This timeline reflects Patel’s commitment to refining the product based on user feedback before scaling operations.

As Ndoc progresses, it aims to redefine the workspace experience, potentially altering how users engage with office tools in the future.

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